What Keeps "Idol" Humming?

My pal Beth Pinsker writes about the behind-the-scene people that keep "American Idol" the #1 show in the country. The one element I think she missed: the savvy decision by the "Idol" producers to fight FOX tooth and nail and keep "Idol" a once-a-year event that starts in January. FOX begged and pleaded and cursed and threatened in a desire to get two editions of "Idol" going -- one in the fall and one in the winter. I was wrong in thinking "Idol" should remain a summer show but I was definitely right in thinking Fox were idiots for wanting to overload us with "Idol>" The show would already have tailed off dramatically if FOX had had their way.